The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-05
YOUTHFUL DEPRAVITY.
An Eight Year Old Boy Plays Incen-
diary. in Brooks County.

From the QtGitma11 (Gd) Free Press
Our readers will doubtless remember a no
tice which appeared in these columns three
weeks since in regard to the burning of
Stonewall Academy in the Morven district,
and subsequently an account of the burning
of another house near by into which Mr..
Williams had moved his school. Suspicion
had been directed to a little son of Mr.. Jack
Croft, who lived near the school houses, on
Mr. Golding's place, but the evidence against
him was insufficient. The boy was caught
ON Monday morning last, by Mr.. G. c. Nc
Rae and Mr.. Hill, while attempting to burn
the third house into which Mr.. Williams had
again moved.
1t is the most singular case of youthful de-
pravity that ever occurred in this section.
The boy is only 8 years and 5months old and
is very small for his age. He confesses the
whole thing and has given a detailed &C
count of the proceedings. He burned the
academy building by setting fire to pile of
dry pine saplings that were learning against
the chimney corner The second house was
burned by setting fire to one of the sills,
which was pitch pine. He went to bed last
Sunday night determined to burn the third
house, and prepared himself with a bundle
of lightwood splinters and box of matches,
which he secreted under his pillow. The last
building was about a mile from the boys
home ana had to be reached by a small path
or trail through the woods. The boy got
out of bed at about o'clock in the morning
and started for the third time, determined
to again apply the incendiary torch. The
night was dark and rainy and most children
of his age would not have dared to venture
out of doors at such time under such sur
roundings; but nothing daunted by forbid
ding circumstances this youthful but de-
PRAYED boy went boldly forth prepared with
matches and splnters and filled with a
strange determination for one so young.
The path which the boy took forked about
half way between his home and the new
school house, and by some singular coinci-
dence the child took the wrong fork, which
carried him TO the home of Mr.. HILL gen
tleman who only few minutes before had
left the school house, where he had been on
watch for the iHcendiary during the night
When the boy reached Mr.. Hills the rain
was pouring down and the night was very
dark. He evidently thought be had reached
the school house and when near the building
struck a match. Mr.. Hill has two faithful
and powerful dogs which were alarmed by
the striking of the match, and detecting tho
presence Of a stranger made simultaneous
attack: one i'll the rear and the other in front.
The boy was cornered and finding himself
about TO be torn to pieces, shouted loudly
for help. Mr. Hill came, drove off the dogs
and carried the child indoors. He still car
ried his splinters and matches, but told sew
eral stories to account for his appearance at
Mr.. Hills One was that he went ont the
evening before to look for the cows ard had
been out all night Finally, however, he
made full confession TO Mr.. GriH Golding,
and gave the details us above stated, but
more fully.
The family leaves the county in compli-
ance with the following resolution adopted
at public meeting:
We the citizens Of this neighborhood have
adopted the following resolution to-wit;
That Mr.. Jack Croft and his family leave
this community within three days and not
locate again nearer than twenty-five or
thirty miles TO the place of his present resi-
dence, and that the meaning and intention
is that they remain permanently away,
and that said Croft agrees TO these terms.
Initiated Constantly
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